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Western Ontario Normal School

The architectural aesthetic of my new neighbourhood is somewhat different from the one of the neighbourhood I just left. The Western Ontario (later London) Normal School opened in 1899, and was the third normal school in Ontario (Toronto and Ottawa having the first two). For some reason it was built facing north, so the front never gets the sun except on summer mornings and evenings. It sits in a large park, so they coulda built it facing south, eh, with a nice park in front of it.

Normal schools are teachers' colleges. They teach the norms of pedagogy. Canadian and American normal schools (and Argentine ones) only prepared teachers for primary school.

Teachers' college seems to be the preferred name in most places these days, but Paris still has the École normale supérieure.

The building is now the headquarters of the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario.

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I added some red to bring out the brick. I think that's what's showing up in the clouds. It's not as noticeable in the large version. Especially if you turn your head toward the left and up and look at the photo sideways -- anything for art, right?
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19 comments

J. Gafarot said:

Very well balanced.
Well done.
3 years ago ( translate )

John FitzGerald replied to J. Gafarot:

Thanks, José. I did a non-standard crop to balance it better, so it's good to know it worked.
3 years ago

Keith Burton said:

I had no idea what a "normal" school was................but after a quick Google, it all becomes clear!

It a very imposing building John..........and must have been quite difficult to frame. I think you've pretty much nailed it though. I like the colour and detail in the brickwork and especially the ornate window surrounds. I can just see a tiny hint of pink in the sky, but only if I lie on my back near the screen with one eye shut, so it doesn't spoil the photo at all :-))

Nice work sir!
3 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to Keith Burton:

Thanks, Keith. I went to Abnormal School myself. I gather "normal school" was widely used throughout the world, but no longer. They;re teachers' colleges here now, and have been all my long life, or the part of it I can remember, anyway.
3 years ago

Fred Fouarge said:

Prachtige Toren
3 years ago ( translate )

John FitzGerald replied to Fred Fouarge:

At first I found the building a bit plain for the period it was built, Fred (Old City Hall in Toronto opened the same year and is much more ornate) but I quickly came to appreciate how well all the features were organized.
3 years ago

tiabunna said:

Like Keith, I'd never heard of a "normal" school - here called a "teacher's college". Well composed and an impressive building, John. Thanks too for your feedback on the "corrugations" shots.
3 years ago

John FitzGerald said:

They're teachers' colleges here now, too, George. As I mentioned to Keith, the term seems to have been very widely used at the time this vuikdig went up, but has pretty much fallen out of use.
3 years ago ( translate )

John FitzGerald replied to John FitzGerald:

Vuikdig = building. In I don't know what language, but that's what it means.
3 years ago

William Sutherland said:

Magnificent shot! Stay well!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
3 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to William Sutherland:

Thanks, William. You, too.
3 years ago ( translate )

Roger (Grisly) said:

Superb tower and a great capture John
3 years ago

John FitzGerald replied to Roger (Grisly):

Thanks, Roger.
3 years ago

Sarah P. said:

"Normal" isn't what it used to be.
3 years ago

John FitzGerald said:

You know (or actually I suppose you don't, Sarah), I can't recall having any normal teachers. Ether they very good or very bad. A bimodal distribution as we say in the trade.
3 years ago